Adjustable switch-box connection



Feb. 3; 1925. 1,524,878

I. S. RAYMER ADJUSTABLE SWITCH BOX CONNECTIQN Filed Nov. 18, 1922 FCli.

I ATTdRN EY L9 lygNToR I'- 'so that unless properly constructed, binding Patented F ch. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,524,878 PATENT OFFICE.

IRA S. RAYMER, OF BEAVER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ADJUSTABLE SWITCH-BOX CONNECTION.

Application filed November 18, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRA S. RAYMER, a. citizen of Canada, and a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Beaver, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Switch-Box Connections, of which the following is a specification. 7 I

This invention relates to the connection between switch points and a switch box or circuit controller, or similar device, 'fOr use in connection with railway signaling systems. V

In connection with railway signaling, it becomes essential to operate a circuit controller or similar device to different positions in accordance with the position of the points of a single slip switch, double slip switch, movable point frog or the like. This connection, usuall in the form of a rod, is subjected in practice to peculiar stresses and changeable movements, due to the displacement of the relative position of theswitch circuit controller or other device to be operated and the switch points. The connection is also exposed to weather and hard usage,

or lost motion is liable to develop to a degree to interfere with the proper operation.

' The primary objects of the present invention are to improve the switch circuit controller connections now commonly used, principally in the manner of the connection to the switch points and in the degree of flexibility afforded, so as to provide a simple, efiicient, and reliable connection adaptable for practical use imder all varying conditions encountered. The specific characteristic features and advantages of th invention will be pointed out more fully herein after. i V In the accompanying draw1ng,F 1g. 1,1llustrates a section of trackway and shows the invention applied to the operation of a switch circuit controller; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the connection between the rod and the switch points.

In the accompanying drawing the usual stockrails are designated 1 and movable switch points 2. The invention is shown for the operation of a switch circuit controller, commonly called a switch box, which may be of any suitable construction and is desig- Serial No. 601,815.

nated as a whole 3. In the usual tyne of switch circuit controller the contacting parts are enclosed in a casing and are operated to the different positions by a crank 4. The connecting rod embodying the present invention is designed to establish an operating connection between the crank 40f the switch circuit controller and one, or both, of the switch points 2. i

This connecting rod or bar designated as a whole B is preferably made up of two parts of different cross-section, either welded together or constructed integral. One end portion 5 is circular in cross-section and threaded to receive a jaw 6 provided with the usual lock nut. this jaw, preferably slightly resilient, are formed with recesses to receive a rounded pin 7 integral or attached to the crank 4,the sides of the jaw being held together by a bolt 8. This connectionbetween the jaw 6 and the crank i is essentially a ball-andsocket connection; and when the bolt 8 is properly adjusted, there can be no lost motion or looseness at this point, the resiliency of the jaw aiding to maintain an intimate contact.

The other portion 9 of the rod B is preferably made of rectangular cross-section, as

shown, and is given a quarter turnor twist,

as indicated at 10, so that there are two portions or length of the rod disposed in planes at right angles to each other. The outer end of the portion 9 is bent up on a sufficiently large radius to avoid weakening the bar at thispoint, and to this bent up end is riveted a reinforcing member 11. The reinforcing member 11 and thebent up end of the rod B are pivotally fastened by a single bolt 12 to the projecting end of a switch lug 13 which is rigidly bolted to the switch point, 2 in the usual manner. The flat portion of the bar B directly under the stock rail is arranged as shown so as to lay flatwise in a horizontal plane, while the intermediate portion of the bar B is disposed flatwise in a vertical plane. I

By reason of the construction described, a strong connection is made between the crank 4L and the switch point 2 in such a The side members of stock rail the bar may bend up and down,

being disposedflatwise in a horizontal plane,

butt-he reinforcingmember 11 renders the upstanding end of the bar stiff. and rigid,

so that the switch circuit controller is always operated properly. This up and down movement compensates .for any displacement of the switch points with respect to the switch circuit controller, and also for the raising and lowering of .the other end of the rod B connected to the crank t as this crank is oscillated. The connection-between the rod Band the crank 4 is such as to permit displacement or flexing horizontally or vertically or in any intermedi ate direction. The intermediate flat portion of-the rod, being disposed flatwisein a vertical plane, permits the rod to bend slightly as the switch point shifts. It should be particularly noted that the construction of this invention does not employ any .of the usual pin and jaw connections which are found in practice to have a certain amount of .lost motion which in time under the severe vibration produces excessive wear.

While one specific structure embodying this invention has .been shown and describedas a typical example, .it is evident that this construction is susceptible of considerable modification and adaptation to fit varying practical conditions, and I desire to have it understood .thatthe invention is not limited to the precise construction shown anddescribed.

What I claim is 1. A rodfor connecting switch circuit controllers and similar devices to switch points and capable of transmitting without deflection a longitudinal thrust suflicient for the operation of the switch circuit controller or similar devce, said rod having a fiat relatively flexible portion near the end connected to the switch point, said portion being disposed flatwise in a horizontal plane.

2. A rod for connecting switch circuit controllers and similar devices to switch points and capable of transmitting without deflection a longitudinal thrust su'fiicient for the operation of the switch circuit controller or similar device, said rod having its end portion near the switch point rectangular in cross section and disposed flatwise in a horizontal plane, said end portion being bent up at the extreme end on an arc of relatively large radius and having its upturned end pivotally connected to the switch point on a horizontal axis.

3; A rod for connecting a switch circuit controller or the like to a switch point having its end portion near the switch point rectangular in cross section and disposed flatwise in a horizontal plane, said end portion being bent up at the extreme end on an arc of relatively large radius and being reinforced by a piece of similar cross section riveted thereto, said reinforced and stiffenedup-turned end being pivotally connected to the switch-point by a single horizontally dis-posed bolt.

A. A rod rectangular in cross section for asportion of its length and adapted to be used for connecting switch circuit controllers and the like to switch,points,:said rod being twisted at an .lintermediate point in its length through an angle of substantially 90 to present a relatively flexible porto the switch lug at the other end afforded by a horizontally disposed bolt, said rod being bendable .both vertically and horizontally at different intermediate points between ,its, ends.

' 6..A rod disposedgenerally horizontally for connecting a: switch circuit controller toa switch point which is bendable vertically near the switch point and which has its extreme end unbendable and pivotally connected to the switch point on a horizontal axis.

7. A connecting rod for switch circuit cont-rollers having one end portion rectangular in cross-section and disposed fiatwise in ahorizontal plane, the end ofsaid end portion being bent up-to extend vertically, and

a reinforcing member riveted to said bent ,up end, said end portion b'eing of a cross section and constructed of a materialepermitting the rod to bend up and down near the switch point, the reinforced rip-turned end being stiff and pivotally connected to the switchpoint.

8. A rod for connecting switch circuit controllers and similar devices to switch points and capable of transmitting without deflection a longitudinal pull or thrust sufficient for the operation of the circuit con troller or similar device, comprising two parts, one rectangular and the other circular in cross section, the part circular in cross section being screw threaded and being thereby adapted to adjust-ably connect to a jaw or similar operating member, the part rectangular in cross section having a quarter twist to aflord a portion disposed fiatwise in a horizontal plane near the switch point and another portion disposed flatwise in a vertical plane between the ends of the rod, said end portion near the switch point being bent up on an arc of large radius to provide an up-turned end disposed fiatwise in a vertical plane, a reinforcing member fastened to said upturned end, and a horizontally disposed bolt pivotally connecting said up-turned end to the switch point.

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature.

IRA S. RAYMER. 

